Scheduled to hit free agency

Swaim (knee) produced 26 receptions, 242 receiving yards and one touchdown over nine games in 2018.

Analysis: Swaim fractured his wrist in a way that required surgery last November and ultimately was planted on injured reserve for the final six games of the season, a period in which second-year backup Blake Jarwin snagged 23 passes for 265 yards and three scores. While Swaim has since had the cast removed from his surgically repaired arm and seems to be nearly full health, the four-year veteran will become an unrestricted free agent in March and may not be as big of a priority for Dallas to re-sign in…read more

Getting cast removed

Swaim (wrist) will have his cast removed Thursday, Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: While he seems to be making good progress, Swaim isn't eligible to return this season even if the Cowboys make a deep playoff run. Blake Jarwin's Week 17 breakout locks him in as the team's top pass-catching threat at tight end.

Placed on injured reserve

Swaim (wrist) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Rob Phillips of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: Swaim was slated to miss his fifth straight game Sunday so the Cowboys made the proactive choice by ruling the tight end out for the rest of the season. Blake Jarwin has turned into a viable weapon in Swaim's absence, recording 11 receptions and 101 receiving yards in the last two weeks, and figures to continue to reprise the role as the Cowboys inch towards a playoff berth.

Sitting out Week 16

Swaim (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim failed to practice Wednesday through Friday, making it inevitable that he would be sidelined for a fifth straight week. The tight end has taken longer to recover from wrist surgery than the Cowboys initially predicted, but the team's decision not to place him on injured reserve implies there remains a belief he'll be ready to go by Week 17 or the playoffs. While Swaim has been out, Blake Jarwin has emerged as the Cowboys' top option at tight end, drawing seven targets in back-to-back…read more

Absent from practice

Swaim (wrist) did not practice Thursday, Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim has missed the last four games after undergoing surgery for a fractured wrist in mid-November, and has yet to return to practice. The 25-year-old is trending towards remaining sidelined for Sunday's tilt against the Buccaneers, in which case Blake Jarwin would once again serve as the Cowboys' top tight end.

Sits out Wednesday

Swaim (wrist) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Swaim underwent surgery for a fractured wrist in mid-November and has missed the last four games. The 25-year-old was originally projected to have a 3-to-4-week absence, so he's already reached the end of that initial timetable without any meaningful sign of progress. The 2015 seventh-round pick will likely need to practice in some capacity Thursday and Friday in order to have a real chance of playing Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Still sidelined Week 15

Swaim (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim required surgery on a broken wrist suffered Nov. 18. It was accompanied by a prognosis of 3-to-4 weeks, but now that he's fast approaching the back end of that timetable with no return to practice in sight, there's no telling when the fourth-year tight end will be available to the offense again. His next chance to practice will be Wednesday, Dec. 19 in preparation for a Week 16 matchup with the Buccaneers.

Missing from practice

Swaim (wrist) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Shortly after Swaim was diagnosed with a fractured bone in his wrist coming out of a Nov. 19 win over the Falcons, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones estimated that the tight end would be sidelined for 3-to-4 weeks following surgery. Now that Swaim is more than three weeks removed from the procedure and has yet to resume practicing, it seems Jones' projected timetable might have been overly optimistic. Swaim hasn't officially been ruled out for the Week 15 matchup with the Colts, but confirmation on…read more

Absence projected for 3-to-4 weeks

Owner Jerry Jones estimated Tuesday that Swaim would be sidelined for 3-to-4 weeks while the tight end recovers from wrist surgery, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: Swaim previously missed a game earlier this season while recovering from an MCL sprain in his knee, but had played in both of the Cowboys' subsequent two contests. He was diagnosed with a fractured bone in his wrist in the aftermath of Sunday's 22-19 win over the Falcons and now looks poised to sit out the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day game against the Redskins, and perhaps additional contests to follow. Though Swaim has served as the team's top tight end this season, the role hasn't translated to…read more

In line for wrist surgery

Swaim broke a bone in his wrist during Sunday's win over the Falcons and will need surgery, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Though Swaim will undergo surgery on his wrist, his injury isn't expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season, according to David Helman of the Cowboys' official site. It remains to be seen just how long the fourth-year tight end will miss, but he is expected to miss Thursday's Thanksgiving matchup with the Redskins, leaving Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin and Rico Gathers to pick up the slack.

Four grabs in win over Falcons

Swaim caught four of five targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 22-19 win over the Falcons.

Analysis: He seems fully recovered from the knee injury that cost him Week 9's game, but even as Dak Prescott's top tight end target, Swaim carries minimal fantasy value -- he's topped 50 yards only once all season, and just three of his 32 targets have come in the red zone.

Practices in full

Swaim (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim returned from a one-game absence to play 56 offensive snaps in the Cowboys' upset win over the Eagles on Sunday, finishing with three receptions for 13 yards. His full involvement in the Cowboys' first practice of Week 10 suggests he escaped the victory with his health intact.

Returns to action Sunday

Swaim (knee) is active for Sunday's contest at Philadelphia, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: The Cowboys have deemed Swaim ready to return exactly three weeks after he sprained the MCL in his knee. Because he was limited in every practice this week, he likely isn't ready to handle his usual workload, meaning Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz and Rico Gathers should remain a part of a TE rotation.

Questionable for Week 10

Swaim (knee) remained limited at practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim will be three weeks removed from suffering an MCL sprain by Sunday night, but there's no guarantee in terms of target volume even if he ends up playing. The inactive list before Sunday's 8:20 PM ET kickoff is unlikely to provide an answer, as the Cowboys have already ruled out six players and may use the seventh spot on No. 3 quarterback Mike White. Another absence for Swaim would leave Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz and Rico Gathers in a committee for a second straight week.

Practices in limited fashion

Swaim (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: Swaim was sidelined for the first time all season in Monday's 28-14 loss to the Titans after sustaining an MCL sprain in the Cowboys' previous game Oct. 21 against Washington. With two and a half weeks to recover from the injury, Swaim looks to be inching closer to full health as Sunday's tilt with the Eagles approaches. If Swaim shows continued improvement at Friday's practice and is cleared to play this weekend, he could take back his starting role at tight end, though that hasn't meant much…read more

Still not practicing

Swaim (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim didn't practice at all last week and was listed as doubtful ahead of Monday's 28-14 loss to the Titans before ultimately missing that contest. Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz and Rico Gathers split playing time at tight end, with the position group accounting for just two targets on 31 pass attempts from Dak Prescott. Swaim likely needs to practice Thursday or Friday to have a shot at making it back for the Week 10 game against the Eagles.

Inactive Monday night

Swaim (knee) is inactive for Monday's game against the Titans, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: Swaim was listed as doubtful coming into Monday, so it is not surprising to see he will not suit up. Blake Jarwin and Rico Gathers figure to see a more prominent role in the Cowboys offense with Swaim out. Dalton Schultz, a 2018 fourth-round pick, should fill a more relevant depth role at tight end.

Unlikely to play Monday

Swaim (knee) is listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Titans, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim was a non-participant at practice this week, so even the doubtful tag feels a bit optimistic. Any of Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz or Rico Gathers -- none of whom have seen more than 27 snaps in a game on offense so far this season -- could benefit from his likely absence.

Spectator for practice

Swaim (knee) didn't participate in Friday's practice, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Swaim has been absent from both of the Cowboys' practices so far this week, so he'll likely need to do something at Saturday's session to have a realistic shot at playing Monday against the Titans. If Swaim sits out the Week 9 matchup, Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz would be the top candidates to pick up snaps at tight end in his stead.

Sitting out first practice of Week 9

Swaim (knee) won't participate in Thursday's practice, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: After suffering an MCL sprain in the Cowboys' Oct. 21 loss to the Redskins, Swaim benefited from Dallas' Week 8 bye to heal up from the injury. It appears the week of rest wasn't enough to fully remedy the issue, putting Swaim's status in question for Monday's game against the Titans. He'll have two more days of practice to prove his health, but if Swaim is ultimately sidelined for the first time this season, Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz would be in store for more work at tight end.

Battling sprained MCL

Swaim (knee) is dealing with a sprained MCL, Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Coach Jason Garrett already ruled Swaim out of the team's practices during this week's bye, but he hoped the results of the MRI would indicate Swaim could return in short order, per David Helman of the Cowboys' official site. The team hasn't officially released a timetable regarding Swaim's recovery at this point, but the lengths can vary depending on the grade of the sprain. Blake Jarwin and Rico Gathers could be next in line to receive snaps if Swaim isn't ready to go against the Titans…read more

Will not return Sunday

Swaim will not return to Sunday's game against the Redskins due to a knee injury, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Swaim exited the Week 7 contest with a knee injury during the fourth quarter. Expect an update on the No. 1 tight end's health after the conclusion of Sunday's game.

Catches two passes in win over Jags

Swaim caught both his targets for 21 yards during Sunday's 40-7 win over the Jaguars.

Analysis: Swaim was targeted just twice, but that was good for third on the team on a day in which the running game was heavily featured. He had averaged 47 receiving yards over the last three games, so this effort was surely disappointing to fantasy owners who were anticipating a larger role in the offense. Swaim should continue to serve as the team's preferred pass-catching tight end option, though his team's reliance on the ground attack can cap his opportunities in a given week. He'll look to bounce…read more

Picks up 55 yards

Swaim caught all three of his targets for 55 yards during Sunday's 19-16 loss to Houston.

Analysis: The bulk of Swaim's production came in the opening minutes of Sunday's game when the fourth-year tight end took a dump pass 43 yards to set up the Cowboys' opening field goal. Swaim ranks second on the team with 11 catches over the past three games, but that doesn't carry a ton of weight in an offense that ranks 29th in the league in passing yards. Don't expect things to get better Sunday against the Jaguars' top-five pass defense.

Hauls in first NFL touchdown

Swaim caught three of five targets for 39 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Lions.

Analysis: He was tied with three other Cowboys for the team lead in targets, and his first red-zone target of the season resulted in his first career NFL touchdown. Swaim seems to be earning some trust from Dak Prescott as a receiver, but even with Sunday's improved overall showing from the Dallas passing game, the tight end's fantasy value is still low heading into a Week 5 trip down I-45 to Houston.

Team-high five catches Week 3

Swaim caught five of seven passes for 47 yards in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks.

Analysis: It was the best game of the tight end's career so far, as his previous high in yards in a game was only 29, set back in 2016. Dak Prescott has shown little willingness to stretch the field this season, which could keep Swaim's targets fairly high as long as he remains in a starting role, but as yet the 25-year-old hasn't shown that he can do much with the volume.

Brings in three catches versus Panthers

Swaim caught three of four targets for 18 yards during Sunday's 16-8 loss to the Panthers.

Analysis: Swaim tied for third in the team in targets, accounting for all but one of Dak Prescott's pass attempts aimed at tight ends. He made a nice play on a screen which resulted in a first down early on, but he was limited to a pair of short gains during the remainder of the game. Although the Dallas passing attack is clearly a work in progress, Swaim is the only option on the depth chart with much experience and was easily the most involved during the season opener. With that said, he won't take…read more

Swaim was used as the Cowboys' starting tight end during offseason practices, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: With 28 career appearances and nine catches to his name, Swaim is somehow the most experienced tight end in Dallas, competing with Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers and Dalton Schultz to replace the retired Jason Witten. The 2015 seventh-round pick doesn't offer much upside as a pass catcher, but he could get some red-zone targets if he manages to lock down the top spot on the depth chart. The Cowboys may end up using a rotation at the position, in which case Swaim likely would handle a blocking role…read more

Swaim (knee) is now the most experienced tight end on the Cowboys' roster following the retirement of Jason Witten, Jon Machota on the Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: That's not saying much -- he's played only 28 games over three seasons in Dallas -- but Swaim is also the only tight end on the depth chart to have caught a pass in a regular-season game, giving him an edge on the current competition as the Cowboys move on from Witten. The 24-year-old is still recuperating from minor knee surgery, but he should be 100 percent by training camp, if not sooner.

Swaim (knee) will likely have competition for the starting tight end spot in Dallas, Drew Davison of The Star-Telegram reports.

Analysis: The Cowboys added to their already clustered tight end group Saturday by selecting Stanford's Dalton Schultz in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. With Jason Witten no longer in the mix, Swaim will likely compete with the rookie for the starting tight end spot. Swaim hauled in just two catches for 25 yards last season.

Swaim recently underwent minor surgery on his right knee, Mickey Spagnola of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: This procedure is likely linked to the knee injury Swaim sustained in November. Entering the last year of his rookie contract, Swaim is expected to be healthy in time for offseason workouts this spring.

Swaim suited up for 15 games in 2017, catching both his targets for 25 yards.

Analysis: The third-year tight end was able to stay healthy, but snaps were hard to come by behind Jason Witten and James Hanna, relegating Swaim mostly to a special-teams role. Swaim has yet to show he can be anything more than a depth option in the NFL, and with Rico Gathers (concussion) looking for playing time in 2018, Swaim's path to a regular role will become that much steeper.

Swaim (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Eagles, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: Swaim didn't play last week against the Falcons after injuring his knee in practice. However, he returned to the fold this week and participated in every practice Wednesday through Friday. His availability for Sunday made rookie Blake Jarwin a healthy scratch.

Swaim (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Analysis: Swaim was a limited participant in practice this week after sitting out last Sunday's loss to the Falcons. Blake Jarwin would fill in as the Cowboys' No. 3 tight end again if Swaim is unable to suit up.

Swaim (knee) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Rob Phillips of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Analysis: Swaim's status was up in the air after he injured his knee during practice Thursday, and he was downgraded to out Saturday. Blake Jarwin will step in as third tight end for the Cowboys in his absence.